The recent past

As a music student, in the midst of all of the mayhem that has been present within the JCFA , I thought it may be important to examine how our tight-knit music community responded. Walking around Lilly during finals week, you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. Of course we all had finals, but music students had another issue on their mind: The firing of Andrea Gullickson was present in reminders all over Lilly and campus in general. Whether it was the avid efforts of the petitioners, the students involved in the sit in on Tuesday, or simply a quick glance from a teacher who simply seemed to know, there was no escaping the mood of shock and sadness. A few of the teachers came out and said that they supported Gullickson and I overheard others say it. One in particular simply gave a smile to a student as the student walked into the dean’s office, after breaking for a final, to rejoin the sit-in.

Tensions were high on all parts, students, faculty, and of course, the higher administration. A few students, while meeting with Peter Alexander, seemed on the brink of tears while others simply had a disapproving glare on their faces. Some simply sat and listened in awe. The administrators fielded questions like “Did anyone other than you have a problem with Dr. Gullickson?” and stumbled over their words while trying to answer the questions without ever actually answering the questions.

Lastly, I want to give personal commendation to a particular Graduate Student, who acted extremely effectively, promptly, and appropriately, organizing the sit in within hours of the release of the news. His actions were admirable and he showed passion, resolve, and respect, which is more than we can say for the upper administration. The Grad student represented Butler far better than a certain Fine Arts dean who can’t seem to be bothered to come to student performances.Dean Alexander gave the welcome speech at the annual Rejoice concert so he must have come to that one, right?Wrong. He left before the music had even started…(Yeah, we noticed.)

These are just my memories of my final few days in Lilly in 2008. Sorry for the lateness: holidays and Family and all. Happy New Year to all, and I hope everyone has a lovely break before we all return. 
signed, 
a Non-Greek (music) Bulldog

Here is the deal.

I want to know, why music at Butler is such an estranged community. Our Building is on the other side of campus, our students never seem to make it out, and feel very out of place around other parts of campus, and generally just seem to be outsiders. The same goes for theatre majors and dancers (though dancers only associate with each other anyway) Granted, the Music program here is of the highest caliber, and only growing and getting better. SO whyd doesn't it get any recognition???? WHY I SAY WHY??
Better question, if Butler music is such a great program, WHY IS THERE NOWHERE FOR US TO BE????? sure there are classrooms, but performance venues: none, other than clowes, which we never get unless its a huge concert, but you can't schedule a mens acapella group or a basoon quintet in clowes. theres Ducky, the 20 person performance broom closet. Great acoustics, but no space for anything real.
But its getting better, Butler is putting on a real opera this year, orchestra and all! (there may only be 6 cast members and a 10 person orchestra, and it may be in a blackbox theatre that belongs to the theatre majors (just ask them, it belongs to them) but it is a real, 1 hour, 6 singer, opera...
Rumor has it that Butler is planning a 250 seat prescenium theatre to be built by... 2012, when no student here now will still be here. I understand that these things take time. But if Butler is going to advertise their music program the way they are, they need to back it up with reality, not hopes and dreams. Otherwise the 20 music major freshmen who transfered last year would still be here.

Frustrations

Nancy Davis Booth Needs to go